Skein conveyer



oc't. 12, 1937. A, 'Q HURXTHAL 2,095,872

SKEIN QONVEYER Filed Feb. 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Cet. 12, 1937. A. o. HURXTHAL 2,095,872

l l SKEIN CONVEYER y Filed Feb. 27,l` 1954 2 sheets-sheet .2

l L AA Patented Oct. 12, 1937 PATENT "OFFICE SKEIN CONVEYER Alpheus 0. Hurxthal, Philadelphia, Pa., assgnor to Proct0r^& Schwartz, Incorporated, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 27, 1934, Serial No. 713,217

15 Claims.

This invention relates to conveyers for materials which are capable ofbeing hung on horizontally disposed poles, such as skeins of yarn,

or bunches of tobacco, etc., wherein the opposite ends of the poles are respectively supported by laterally spaced carriers, such as link belts or chains,vwhich advance the poles along a predetermined substantially horizontal course at a definite rate of speed in spaced relation to each other, with the material hanging freely from the poles between the carriers,

Prior tothe present invention it has been common practice to support the ends of the poles on the upper runs of endless chains operating solely and disposed entirely in vertical planes respectively;- and to provide fixed Vguards along the opposite sides of.` the path traveled by the poles, below the carrying runs of the chains, to prevent the material from swaying laterally, engaging and/or becoming entangled With or in the return runs of the carrier belts -or with objects disposed along the course of movement of the poles. l

'Ihis practice in order to avoid chang and soiling of the material by contact with the xed v' guards, despite the precaution taken to make the surface of the guardsras smooth as possible necessitated the placing of some kinds of materials, such asne' silk yarns, at a considerable distance inwardly from the opposite ends of the poles to prevent the above mentioned injuries to the material by rubbing against the iixed guards, consequently, in apparatus employed for 'processing or conditioning the yarn skeins, etc., suchvas driers, the material, by reason of its being hung a distance from the guards, leaves considerable space at each side of the course of travel of the bulk of material `from end to end of the drier throughwhich large quantities of the drying air pass Without doing any useful drying of 'the material and due to the highvelocity at which the air travels through these spaces it causes tanglingof'the. yarn nearest the spaces and causes those particular portions of the bulk supported on the conveyer to dry out more rapidly than those portions supported by, at, and near the centers of the holes.

In the ease `of tobacco, as the leaves in the bunches adjacent the guards dry out, during passage through the drier, contact therenf with the xed guards causes the leaves or portions thereof f spectively, to avoid relative movement between the guards and the material supported by the poles and hanging therefrom in the space between the synchronously moving side guards.

One extremely valuable advantage of this inventio-n resides in the adaptability of the poles to being loaded to the point where the material supported thereby lies immediately adjacent and in contact with'the traveling guards by reason of there being no relative movement between the guards and the material as they simultaneously vtravel through the drier, thus eiecting a considerable saving in drying air, or the putting into useful service of air otherwise wasted, by reason of the above noted air passages being blocked by the material lying at, near, and against the guards.

Another advantage vof the invention resides by reason of it'being possible to `load the poles to full capacity, in increasing the hourly capacity off the drieras a Whole.

- l Another advantage accruing to the present invention is the elimination of the chang, soiling, entangling, or crumbling of the material by contact with a relatively movable object While .being conveyed through/the drier.

Another object of the invention is to run .the carrier chains solely in horizontal planes whereby, instead of the return' runs of the endless chains moving in opposite directions at or near the traveling guards to rub against and injurev the guards andthe material lying against the guards, these return'runs `are maintained at all times in the same horizontal plane with the runs on which the poles are carried and consequently cannot injure neither the traveling guards ,nor the material adjacent thereto.

In the preferred form of the invention each'of the traveling guards at the opposite sides respectively of the course comprises ilexible` endless aprons having an upper longitudinal edge secured to or supported adjacent each pole carrier and driven in a manner to travel at the'same rate of speed as the carrier, with the body oi' the flexible apron hanging downwardlyand freely to protect the material as it travels through its prescribed course. v

In a modied form of the invention the traveling guard may be foimedin sections respectively secured at their upper ends to one or more of the links of the pole-carrying chains and the guard proper may be composed of either flexible material or relatively stiff material with. the edges of successive guard lsections in abutting or over- 'trating a drier equipped with traveling guards in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 6 6, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a carrier and a sectional guard depending therefrom; and

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a modification of the invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the pole carriers in the present instance, each consists of a continuous endless belt or chain I composed of a series of links 2, 2 connected, one to the other, through and by vertically disposed pins or pintles 3, 3, for relative pivotal movement confined solely to a horizontal plane.

` Each link 2, or a predetermined link in a group thereof, is provided with a wheel 4 which is rotatably mounted on a horizontally disposed axle 5, pinned or otherwise secured in the link against longitudinal and/or rotary movement relative thereto.

'I'he chains I, I arel spaced apart laterally, as shown in Fig. 6, and pass around a pair of sprocket wheels 6 and 1, which are spaced apart and disposed in a common horizontal plane at the opposite ends respectively'of the course traveled by the pole-carrying and return runs Ia, I a and Ib, Ib respectively of the endless chains 1, 1, and adapted for rotation in said horizontal plane about vertical axes provided byshafts 8 and 9,'

as shown in Fig. 5.

'The shafts 8 and 9 may be driven in unison by any desired means, such, for example, as from and by a transversely extending shaft Ill through ch'ain and sprocket mechanism lI-I2-I3, the sprocket' I3 being secured to a short shaft I4 to which is xed a gear I5 meshing with a gear I6 on the lower end o f the shaft 9, in each instance.

The links 2, 2 are each provided with a socket orsockets Il for the reception of the ends of the poles ic, :z: on which the material y is hung.

The traveling guard, in the preferred form of the invention, comprises ai continuous endless belt 20 composed of any suitable material preferablya flexible textile material such as duck.v

The belt 20 passes around drums or Wide faced pulleys 2| and 22 mounted on the shafts 8 and 9 respectively below the sprockets 6 and 1 around which the carriers I, I, pass.

The upper edge of the flexible guard belt 20 preferably extends upwardly to and in a plane immediately-adjacent the link s 2,v 2 of the chains 1, 1 to a plane approximately in line withthe bases of the pole sockets Il, while the lower edge of the guard is preferably -disposed below the 23, to receive the upper edge 24 of a horizontal slot of a series ofA poles having material freely sus.

pended therefrom intermediate said carriers. and 7" In order to maintain the above relationship between the carriers 'and the guards it is preferable to secure the upper edge of the ilexibie belts or aprons 20, 20 to the carrier chains I, I respectively and for this purpose each, or any desired number of the axles for the wheels l are extended beyond the chains I; I at one side thereof, as indicated at 5a, see Figs. 1 to 4. Each extension 5a is circumferentially grooved as at 25 formed in a hanger plate 26 secured to the apron 20 in any suitable manner, as by rivets 21.

The horizontal slot 25 is provided with a right angle opening 28 of sucient size to permit the extensionA 5a to enter to a depth to allow the edge 24 of the horizontal slot 25 to seat itself in the groove 23 for supporting the guard 20 from and by the carrier chain I.

While one specic way of attaching the guard 2l) to the carrier I has been illustrated other forms `of attaching means may be provided with out departing from the spirit of the invention.

In order to off-set any tendency of the carrier chains I to tilt inwardly toward each other under the Weight of the poles, the material on the poles and the guards, each or any desired numberv of the wheel axles 5 may be extended beyond the chains I, I, at the opposite sides of the links 2 from which the extensions 5a project, as indicated at 5b in Figs. 2 and 4, for the reception of rollers 3 30 which are adapted to bear against the underside of a rail 3| which extends substantially parallel to the rail 32 on which the supporting wheels 4, 4 for the chains I, I run.

The rails 3| and 32 preferably extend'the full 3 distance between the sprockets 6 and 1 to prevent sagging and tilting of the chains and the guards.

In some instances, as shown in Fig. '7, the guard may be made in a plurality of sections 20a. respectively carried by the links 2a with the vertical 4 edges of the sections in laterally abutting or overlapping relation to each other vand in place of these sections being composed of .duck or other flexible material theS7 may be composed of some relatively stiff material such as sheet fiber or 4 metal.

In come instances, as shown for example in Figs. 8 and 9, the carrier chains Ic may be disposed in vertical planes while the guards 20c are disposed in horizontal planes and the two may 'be synchronized as to linear travel in any suit-v able rnanner as for example by spiral gears 35 and 36 secured to the shafts 8c and 31 to which the drum 2Ic and sprocket 6c are respectively secured.

In such a case the guard 20c may be prevented from working its4 way downwardly on the drum 2Ic by any suitable means such as by having a perforated flexible strip 38 secured to the upper edge of the guard and running around a4 wheel 2Id of the same diameter as the drum 2Ic with pins or teeth 39 on the periphery of the wheel 2Id extending into the perforations of the flexible strip. 38:

In such a case as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the return runs of the carrier chains Ic would be disposed wholly within the guard belt 28e protecting the material on the polesfagainst contact with the return runs of the carrier chains.

1...' I'he combination of a pair of laterally vspaced horizontally movable carriers adapted to support the opposite ends respectively of each a pair of guards adapted to travel concurrently with said carriers respectively intermediate the plane of the poles and the lowermost portions ofthe freely hanging material for lateral coniiningengagement with the freely hanging portions of the material disposed. on the poles adjacent said carriers.

2. The combination of a pair of laterally spaced horizontally movable carriers adapted to support the opposite ends respectively of each of a series of poles having material suspended therefrom intermediate said carriers, and guards depending respectively from and adapted to travel concurrently with the carriers for engagement with depending portions of the material disposed on the poles adjacent the carriers.

3. The combination of a pair of laterally spaced horizontally movable carriers adapted to support the opposite ends respectively of each of a series of poles having material suspended therefrom intermediate said carriers, and guards' depending respectively from and adapted to travel concurrently with the carriers between the carriers and the material for engagement with depending portions of the material disposedl on the poles adjacent the carriers.

4. The combination of a pair of laterally spaced horizontally movable carriers adapted to support the opposite ends respectively of each of a series of poles having material freely suspended therefrom intermediate said carriers, a

pair of guards adapted to travel concurrently pair of guards adapted to travel concurrently with said carriers respectively intermediate the plane of the poles and the lowermost portions of the freely hanging material for lateral conning engagement with the freely hanging portions of the material disposed on the poles adjacent said carriers, and means forming 'a driving connection between the guards and the carriers for effecting said concurrent movement thereof. l

6. 'The combination of a pair of laterally spaced horizontally movable carriers adapted to support the opposite ends respectively of each of a series of poles having material suspended therefrom intermediate said carriers, guards disposed below and adapted to travel concurrently with said 4carriers respectively for engagement with depending portions `of the material disposed on the poles adjacent said carriers, and means securing the guards tothe carriers for supporting the guards and effecting said concurrent movement between the guards and the carriers.

7. The combination of apair of laterally spaced horizontally movable carriers adapted to support the opposite ends respectively of each of a series of poles having material suspended therefrom intermediate said carriers, an endless guard i belt traveling in a horizontal plane around each carrier and depending from the carrier to engage depending portions of the material carried by the poles adjacent the carriers, and means for synchronously actuating saidv guardI belts and said carriers to effect concurrent movement thereof. Y

8. The combination of a pair of endless carrier belts disposed substantially in a common horizontal plane in substantially parallel latervally spaced relation to each other with-the innermost runs of said carrier belts arranged to support the opposite ends respectively of each of a series of poles having material suspended therefrom between the pole-carrying runs of said lcarrier belts, and a pair' of endless guard belts substantially coinciding with and depending from said carrier belts respectively and adapted to operate concurrently with said carrier belts for engagement with depending portions of the material supported by the poles adjacent the car- 'rier belts.

9. The combination of a pair of endless carrier belts disposed substantially in a common horizontal plane in substantially parallel laterally spaced relation to each other with the innermost runs of said carrier belts arranged to support the opposite ends respectively of each of a series of poles having material suspended therefrom between the pole-carrying runs of said carrier belts, a pair of endless guard belts substantially coincidingwith and depending from said carrier belts respectively and adapted to operate concurrently with said carrier belts for engagement with depending portions of the material supported by the poles adjacentI the carrier belts, and means for synchronizing the actuations of said belts.

10. The combination of a pair of endless carrier belts disposed substantially in a common horizontal plane in substantially parallel laterally spaced relation to each other with the'innermost runs of said carrier belts arranged to support the opposite ends respectively of each of a series of poles having material suspended therefrom between the pole-carrying runs of said carrier belts, a pair of endless guard belts substantially coinciding with and depending from said carrier belts respectively and adapted to operate concurrently with said carrier belts for engagement with depending portions of the material supported bythe poles adjacent the carrier belts, and means forming a driving connection between said belts to effect saidl concurrent movements thereof.

11. The combination of a pair o f endless carrier belts disposed substantially in a common horizontal plane in substantially parallel laterally spaced relation to each other with the innermost runs of said carrier belts arranged to support the opposite ends 'respectively of each of a series of poles having material suspended therefrom between the pole-carrying runs ofsaid carrier belts, a pair of endless guard belts substantially coinciding with and depending from said carrier belts respectively and adapted to operate concurrently With said carrier belts for engagement with depending portions of thematerial supported by the poles adjacent the carrier belts, and

means securing the guard belts to the carrier belts for .eecting said concurrent movements thereof.

12. The 'combinatin of a pair of endless carrier belts disposed substantially in a common horizontal plane in substantially parallel later- `ally spaced relation to each other with the innermost runs of said carrier belts arranged to support the opposite ends respectively of each of a CJD series of poles having material suspended therefrom between the pole-carrying runs of said carrier beltsl a pair of endless guard belts substantially coinciding with and depending from said carrier belts respectively and adapted to oper\` ate concurrently with said carrier belts for engagement with depending portions of the material supported by the poles 'adjacent the 'carrier belts, and means detachably securing the guard belts to the carrier belts for effecting said concurrent movements thereof and for readily removing the guard belts from the carrier belts.

13. The combination of a pair of endless carrier belts disposed substantially in a common horizontal plane in substantially'parallel laterally spaced relation to each other with the innermost runs of said carrier belts arranged to support the opposite ends respectively of each of a series of poles having material suspended therefrom between the pole-carrying runs'of said carrier belts, a. pair of endless flexible guard belts substantially coinciding with and depending from said carrierv belts respectively and adapted to operate concurrently with said carrier, belts for engagement with depending portions of the material supported by the polesvadjacent the carrier belts, and means vdetachably securing the guard belts to the carrier belts for eiecting said concurrent movements thereof and for readily removing the guard belts from the carrier belts.

14. An endless flexible guard belt arranged to travel in a horizontal plane about relatively spaced vertically arranged axes, attachments secured to the belt adjacent the upper edge thereof for supporting\the belt during said travel, and a drive belt adjacent and arranged to travel concurrently with the upper edge of the guard belt, and means on the `drive\b\elt\\engaging the attachments on the giardib'elt and, providing a driving connection between said belt` 15. An endless flexible guard belt a `anged to travel in a horizontal plane about relatively spaced vertically arranged axes, a. drive adjacent and arranged to travel concurrently with the upper edge of the guard belt, and pins on one of said belts projecting into openings formed` in the other of said belts for providing a readily detachable positive driving connection between said belts.

ALPI-EUS O. HURXTHAL. 

